Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Lance Armstrong's Artist Bikes for Giro d'Italia

"In a world exclusive we’re happy to reveal the first full look at Lance Armstrong's newly completed Supertouch-curated Trek art bikes designed for his run in the upcoming Giro d'Italia by artists SHEPARD FAIREY (the man behind the Barack Obama 'Hope' poster )and KENNY SCHARF. The world’s most prestigious cycling stage race after the legendary Tour de France, the Giro is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2009 and a lengthy run through several historic cities was designed to honor the event. Coincidentally this is also the only year Lance has ever entered the race, a historic first for the cancer crusading cyclist who broke his collarbone last month in a Spanish race. Lending their formidable creative talents to the challenge, Shepard and Kenny created two vastly different and utterly unique cycles to draw attention to Lance’s upcoming NIKE-backed “STAGES” anti-cancer art show benefiting LIVESTRONG that will debut on July 16th in Paris at GALERIE EMMANUEL PERROTIN during the TDF. Getting up on Lance’s “daily driver” Trek Madone road bike, Shepard Fairey created a vibrant homage to Lance’s cancer fighting foundation while including ancient patterning in honor of Italy’s rich architectural details. NYC Pop Art legend Kenny Scharf took a totally different approach to Lance’s Trek TTX time trial cycle and created the “lightspeed” space bike that will hopefully hurtle Tex across the finish line in record time. Both bikes will be auctioned off on October 2nd (10/2 marks the date of Lance’s original cancer diagnosis) at the NYC stop of the “Stages” art tour at the historic Park Ave Armory with all proceeds going to benefit Livestrong."